Best Quality of Life Grants in Florida

Deputy Patrick Mayfield Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a North Georgia First Responder, their child or spouse who are pursuing their post-secondary education. For this scholarship, a first responder is defined as Police (including local and state), Fire, EMS workers, and Communications officers. In 2026, one scholarship award of $500 will be offered.

The Dr. Doris R. Corbett-Johnson Leaders for Our Future Award, presented by SHAPE America, honors young professionals under 36 who exhibit exceptional promise in scholarship, teaching, and leadership. This prestigious award is available in two categories: college/university and non-college/university, with a maximum of two recipients per category each year. By recognizing emerging leaders, SHAPE America aims to inspire a new generation dedicated to advancing health and physical education.

The Paul and Barbara Yamber Memorial STEM Scholarship, administered by the Quad Cities Community Foundation, provides need-based financial support for students pursuing STEM fields. Annually, up to $10,000 is awarded, renewable for up to four years. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and a commitment to STEM education, ensuring that this scholarship significantly impacts their ability to attend college. Preference is given to undergraduates, making this a vital resource for aspiring STEM professionals.

Scholarships and Awards

The National Federation of the Blind offers several scholarships and awards that honor blind individuals as well as teachers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and organizations whose work benefits the blind community.

Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards

The Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards honor individuals and organizations that are a positive force in the lives of blind people.

Applicants for the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards must demonstrate exemplary leadership and extraordinary accomplishments in improving the lives of blind people in the United States.

An application for an award can be made either by the applicant directly or by third parties who nominate an applicant.

Each application requires an essay describing the work or project to be recognized. In addition, applications must have at least one letter of recommendation in support of the nominee.

The National Federation of the Blind determines the total amount available for the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards each year based on the trust income received. The number of awards and the amount of each award will be determined by the NFB’s Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee based on its evaluation of eligible and deserving applicants.

Each year, to the extent feasible as determined by the committee’s evaluation of applications received, one or more awards will be made to applicants in each category: blind individuals, sighted individuals, and corporate or organizational entities. However, the committee is not bound to make an award in each category during each competition year and may not do so if an application meeting the selection criteria is not available.

Sponsored by the Alfred & Rosalind Perlman Trust. Presented by the National Federation of the Blind.

The Pittsburgh Foundation

Established in 1945, The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest community foundations and as of 2022 is the 18th largest of more than 750 similar foundations across the United States.

As a community foundation, its resources comprise endowment funds established by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and fulfilling the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for all in the region. The Foundation currently manages about 2,500 individual donor funds and, together with its supporting organizations and its affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, has assets of $1.386 billion (2022). Grantmaking benefits a broad spectrum of basic needs and development opportunities within Pittsburgh and beyond.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County provide scholarship opportunities for local students to pursue their educational goals. Scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate, medical and professional school students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities and career/technical schools.

Unknown Donor Scholarship Fund

The Unknown Donor Scholarship Fund was established at The Pittsburgh Foundation to provide scholarships to graduating high school seniors of Pittsburgh Public Schools with a preference for applicants who have faced social, economic, or educational barriers due to systemic gender inequity.

Award Type: Single Year Award. 

The San Diego Foundation

We enable donors and nonprofit partners to tackle the most critical needs facing San Diegans.

For 50 years, donors, nonprofits, communities, government and civic leaders have trusted San Diego Foundation to transform lives and have partnered with us for lasting change that moves our region forward.

As San Diego’s largest regional community foundation, it’s our job to understand the pulse of our local communities better than anyone, enabling donors and nonprofit partners to tackle the most critical needs facing San Diegans.

Community Scholarship Program

Since 1997, the Community Scholarship Program has awarded $59.5 million to more than 15,400 students, making our program the largest non-university scholarship provider in San Diego County. By offering financial assistance, the program helps students dedicate more time to their studies, stay enrolled and complete their degrees.

The John C. Berray Foundation - Celebrating a Passion Scholarship

The John C. Berray Foundation - Celebrating a Passion Scholarship applicants should:

• Have resided in San Diego County for at least one year
• Be graduating high school seniors from Grossmont Union High School District
• Plan to enroll in an accredited community college, four-year university or trade/vocational school in the United States in fall
• Have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale

Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties

The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Inc., strengthens our communities by leading philanthropy and solutions through our direct work in partnership with donors, nonprofits and the community. Our 501(c)3 nonprofit Foundation is the foremost resource for convening partners to elevate people, improve lives and make our community a better place to live.

Grants & Scholarships

Grants power our nonprofit partners on the frontlines of pressing local issues, filling the opportunity gaps through direct-to-people programming.

Scholarships support aspiring college students who hold the promise of tomorrow’s progress.

Together, our competitive grants and scholarships help our region rise thanks to the vision and generosity of our donors. 

The Community Foundation offers both need and merit based scholarships.

Community Foundation Scholarship Fund

Gifts to this general fund are pooled to support eligible students who completed the full application process. These flexible monies can be used to supplement donor-directed awards or support outstanding candidates who may not have matched to a donor-directed fund’s criteria.

The San Diego Foundation

We enable donors and nonprofit partners to tackle the most critical needs facing San Diegans.

For 50 years, donors, nonprofits, communities, government and civic leaders have trusted San Diego Foundation to transform lives and have partnered with us for lasting change that moves our region forward.

As San Diego’s largest regional community foundation, it’s our job to understand the pulse of our local communities better than anyone, enabling donors and nonprofit partners to tackle the most critical needs facing San Diegans.

Community Scholarship Program

Since 1997, the Community Scholarship Program has awarded $59.5 million to more than 15,400 students, making our program the largest non-university scholarship provider in San Diego County. By offering financial assistance, the program helps students dedicate more time to their studies, stay enrolled and complete their degrees.

The Eleanor and Simon Weissberger Scholarship

The Eleanor and Simon Weissberger Scholarship applicants should:

• Reside within the 92113 zip code
• Be graduating high school seniors
• Plan to enroll full-time at a four-year college or university, community college, or licensed career/technical school in the United States in fall
• Have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• Have parents who did not attend college
• Show a strong commitment to their community as demonstrated by their involvement in extra-curricular activities and/or community or faith-based service
• Not major in political, social, ethnic studies, and advocacy work

Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties

The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Inc., strengthens our communities by leading philanthropy and solutions through our direct work in partnership with donors, nonprofits and the community. Our 501(c)3 nonprofit Foundation is the foremost resource for convening partners to elevate people, improve lives and make our community a better place to live.

Grants & Scholarships

Grants power our nonprofit partners on the frontlines of pressing local issues, filling the opportunity gaps through direct-to-people programming.

Scholarships support aspiring college students who hold the promise of tomorrow’s progress.

Together, our competitive grants and scholarships help our region rise thanks to the vision and generosity of our donors. 

The Community Foundation offers both need and merit based scholarships.

Courtlandt and Gina Miller Scholarship Fund

Scholarship Eligibility

• Graduating high school senior from any Palm Beach or Martin County high school
• Preference given to minority students or those with extraordinary circumstances
• Demonstrate financial need

Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties

The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Inc., strengthens our communities by leading philanthropy and solutions through our direct work in partnership with donors, nonprofits and the community. Our 501(c)3 nonprofit Foundation is the foremost resource for convening partners to elevate people, improve lives and make our community a better place to live.

Grants & Scholarships

Grants power our nonprofit partners on the frontlines of pressing local issues, filling the opportunity gaps through direct-to-people programming.

Scholarships support aspiring college students who hold the promise of tomorrow’s progress.

Together, our competitive grants and scholarships help our region rise thanks to the vision and generosity of our donors. 

The Community Foundation offers both need and merit based scholarships.

Cynthia Wells Chick Scholarship Fund

Scholarship Eligibility

• Graduating high school seniors from Palm Beach and Martin Counties
• Must be currently enrolled in or have completed a JROTC program
• Applicants preferably from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Must be enrolled in an accredited college, university, or vocational school
• Minimum GPA of 2.0 required

Council on Foundations

The Council on Foundations is a nonprofit membership association that serves as a guide for philanthropies as they advance the greater good. Building on our 75-year history, the Council supports over 1,000 member organizations in the United States and around the world to build trust in philanthropy, expand pathways to giving, engage broader perspectives, and co-create solutions that will lead to a better future for all. 

Council Awards

Our awards program recognizes excellence in philanthropy and honors leaders for their dedication to explore creative ways to advance the common good and fund solutions for complex issues. The Council Awards recognize exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact across the philanthropic sector.

Building Together Award

The Building Together Award grew out of the Council on Foundations’ strategic focus on Building Common Ground. The award:

• Celebrates work that builds the heart set, mindset, and skill set to connect and collaborate across differences. This may include efforts that foster dialogue, promote understanding, create belonging, transform conflict, and engage in collaborative problem-solving.
• Recognizes those doing the courageous and complex work of bringing people together across lines of difference. This includes creating space where diverse voices can be heard, finding shared purpose, and shaping a collective future.  

Award Criteria

Nominators will be asked to share a story (with quantitative and/or qualitative evidence) about how the philanthropic organization, initiative and/or collaborative:

• Meaningfully and intentionally advances belonging, pluralism, collaborative problem-solving, and social cohesion and
• Demonstrates the heart set, mindset and skill set to connect and collaborate across differences.

The nominee will provide evidence of meaningful outcomes and impact for the following criteria:

• Intentionally advanced values: meaningfully and intentionally advanced values such as tolerance, pluralism, and social cohesion.
• Heartset: meaningfully and intentionally institutionalizing the HEARTSETS of building common ground.
• Mindset: meaningfully and intentionally institutionalizing the MINDSETS of building common ground?
• Skillset: meaningfully and intentionally institutionalizing the SKILLSETS of building common ground? 

One supplemental material upload is required (no more than five total items) may be uploaded to provide documentation and support of achievements. These supplemental materials may include, but not limited to: reference letter, endorsement, or letter of support for the nomination from the community leadership (i.e., nonprofit, grantee partner, or a government leader), videos, news articles, report, or publication, organizational strategic plan or annual report, or individuals resume.

The Council on Foundations prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, sex, ethnicity, religion, or national origin, to each such award.

The Fredric Rosemore Low Vision Educational Grant, awarded by the American Academy of Optometry Foundation since 2012, aims to foster excellence in low vision education at North American optometry institutions. Each grant provides $1,000 to support various needs such as personnel, equipment, or care, aligning with the mission of the AAOF. Eligible applicants include members of the AAO, whether they are students, candidates, or Fellows.

The J.J. Crosetti, Jr. Memorial Scholarship offers a $1,500 award to students majoring in agriculture. To qualify, applicants must either reside in Santa Cruz County or be members of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. The scholarship is awarded upon proof of college enrollment, making it an excellent opportunity for aspiring agricultural professionals to receive financial support for their education.

The nccPA Health Foundation offers the Oral Health - Research Integration Grant to support PAs in integrating oral health into their curriculum or clinical practice. With grants of up to $3,000 available, this initiative aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of PAs, ensuring that oral health is recognized as a critical component of overall health care. Applications are accepted year-round, encouraging innovative strategies to improve access and reduce disparities in oral health.

The nccPA Health Foundation's Oral Health - Community Outreach Grant offers up to $2,500 for PA-led initiatives that enhance oral health awareness and treatment. Open to certified PAs, PA students, and organizations, this grant aims to empower applicants to bridge healthcare gaps in oral health. Applications are accepted year-round, promoting continuous engagement in advancing community health. This initiative highlights the vital role of PAs in enhancing access to oral healthcare services.

The nccPA Health Foundation's Mental Health - Community Outreach Grant supports innovative PA-led projects aimed at improving mental health awareness and reducing stigma in communities. With funding up to $2,500, this grant encourages collaboration among PAs, PA students, and organizations to address the mental health needs of vulnerable populations. Applications are accepted year-round, promoting ongoing community engagement and systemic change through education, prevention, and treatment initiatives.

The Community Foundation’s scholarships are for Arkansas students pursuing education at two- or four-year colleges or universities, vocational schools or technical training programs. Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria. Some scholarships are designated for graduates of a particular high school or those who plan to attend a particular college. Others are based on extracurricular activities or intended college majors.  

The Foundation has a scholarship portal with a quiz to help applicants determine scholarship eligibility. 

“Since 1976, the Community Foundation has partnered with individuals and organizations who want to support our state’s students in their pursuit of higher education,” said Heather Larkin, Community Foundation president and CEO. “These generous people provide the funding and determine the size and eligibility criteria of each scholarship, while we oversee the application and awarding process on their behalf.”  

Clay and Margaret Godfrey Memorial Agricultural Scholarship

For students enrolled in college pursuing a degree in agricultural science. 

The Community Foundation’s scholarships are for Arkansas students pursuing education at two- or four-year colleges or universities, vocational schools or technical training programs. Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria. Some scholarships are designated for graduates of a particular high school or those who plan to attend a particular college. Others are based on extracurricular activities or intended college majors.  

The Foundation has a scholarship portal with a quiz to help applicants determine scholarship eligibility. 

“Since 1976, the Community Foundation has partnered with individuals and organizations who want to support our state’s students in their pursuit of higher education,” said Heather Larkin, Community Foundation president and CEO. “These generous people provide the funding and determine the size and eligibility criteria of each scholarship, while we oversee the application and awarding process on their behalf.”  

Robert P. Atkinson Hospital Leadership and Scholarship

Provides a scholarship to students pursuing an advanced degree with an emphasis in healthcare and/or hospital administration.

Scholarships support aspiring college students who hold the promise of tomorrow’s progress.

Together, our competitive grants and scholarships help our region rise thanks to the vision and generosity of our donors.

Esther Sheehy McShurley Scholarship Fund

For Esther Sheehy McShurley, giving back has always meant investing in young lives. Whether volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club of Port Salerno or raising funds through its annual events, Esther has seen firsthand how early support can change a child’s path.

“It provides a wonderful start for the boys and girls,” she says. “If we can get to children while they’re young, they can become better citizens when they get older.”

Wanting to extend her impact beyond today, Esther created the Esther Sheehy McShurley Scholarship Fund through a charitable remainder unitrust with the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. The scholarship will help graduating seniors from Martin County high schools, with a preference for students pursuing vocational or technical education.

She hopes the fund will empower students who are ready to learn skills, launch careers, and build better futures — especially those who dream of starting their own businesses. “There is a great need for scholarships for young people who want to apply their knowledge directly to making a living,” she says.

Esther sees her scholarship as an extension of the work she loves most: encouraging young people to believe in their potential and take their first steps toward independence.

“This is my legacy,” she says. “It’s nice to know that the children who receive this scholarship will know who I am and what I cared about. It’s a good feeling to know that someone will have an opportunity to make something of themselves — and make this a better world.”

The Florida Forest Legacy Grant Program aims to conserve critical forest areas threatened by development. It encourages landowners to maintain forested lands through economic incentives, ensuring sustainable management practices. Participation can involve selling property or retaining ownership with conservation easements. Funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the program receives support from the Great American Outdoors Act, which secures ongoing financial resources for land conservation efforts benefiting all Americans.

Each year, Innovia awards over $500,000 in scholarships to deserving students like you who are college-bound or pursuing vocational or technical training. Single scholarship awards range between $500 and $10,000.

Eilleen Hutchison Scholarship

Primary factors for consideration are academic achievement, financial need and good personal character. Previous recipients of this award are eligible to reapply.

The John R. Stempka Memorial Scholarship, established by Linda Stempka and family, supports Erie County residents pursuing technical education, particularly in welding. In 2023, the Erie Community Foundation awarded over $800,000 in scholarships to empower more than 500 students in their educational endeavors. This scholarship aims to help individuals achieve their career goals and enhance their skills in the technical field, ensuring a brighter future for the community.

Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties

The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Inc., strengthens our communities by leading philanthropy and solutions through our direct work in partnership with donors, nonprofits and the community. Our 501(c)3 nonprofit Foundation is the foremost resource for convening partners to elevate people, improve lives and make our community a better place to live.

Grants & Scholarships

Grants power our nonprofit partners on the frontlines of pressing local issues, filling the opportunity gaps through direct-to-people programming.

Scholarships support aspiring college students who hold the promise of tomorrow’s progress.

Together, our competitive grants and scholarships help our region rise thanks to the vision and generosity of our donors. 

The Community Foundation offers both need and merit based scholarships.

Arthur C. Tilley Memorial Scholarship Fund

Scholarship Eligibility

• Graduating high school senior from any Palm Beach or Martin County high school.
• Must have “C” average or better in HS. Based on financial need.
• Attend 2 or 4-year college or university with preference for students pursing traditional or non-traditional tech training leading to a cert or degree in chosen field.

The Family Medicine Cares USA Free Health Clinics Grants support new and existing clinics in the U.S. that provide care to the uninsured. With applications accepted annually from March 15 to July 15, these grants assist clinics in purchasing essential medical equipment. The initiative aims to address the needs of over 50 million uninsured individuals, ensuring access to primary care and promoting volunteerism among AAFP members and medical students. Grants of up to $10,000 are available to eligible clinics.

The Breed Promotion Grant Program, offered by the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA), supports AMHA clubs and Morgan-related organizations in promoting the Morgan horse breed. Eligible entities can request funding for various promotional activities. In 2021, AMHA awarded nine grants across the U.S. and Australia, demonstrating their commitment to breed promotion. This grant aims to enhance the visibility and appreciation of Morgans within the equestrian community.

American Academy of Periodontology Foundation

Mission Statement

The American Academy of Periodontology Foundation serves to advance the specialty of periodontology and dental implant surgery through advocacy, research, and education.

The AAP Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity and the only organization of its kind designed exclusively to serve the community of periodontal caregivers and patients.

International Resident Award

The AAPF International Resident Award was created by founding gifts from Dr. Irina F. Dragan and her patients at The Perio Studio, Boston, MA. Dr. Dragan is a former AAPF Awardee and current Board Member who completed her dental degree in Romania and her periodontal residency in US.

The applicants must be nominated by their Program Director. Applicants that demonstrate leadership and/or community service are encouraged to apply.